Medicine

F rance’s great medical tradition is internationally recognized, as

exemplified by 13 Nobel prizes for physiology or medicine (Jules Hoffmann
MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Useful links
shared the 2011 Nobel prize in medicine with American Bruce Beutler) and
 National Academy of Medicine: www.academie-medecine.fr
nearly 80 medical firsts achieved by French practitioners between 1950 and  Regardless of level of medical training, international students
2011. Those firsts include the discovery of the genetic cause of Down  National Association of Medical Students in France (ANEFMF):
syndrome (1958), the first kidney transplant from a related donor (1959),
must pass the examination given at the end of the first www.anemf.org
the hepatitis B vaccine (1981), the implantation of an insulin pump in a year of medical study (PACES).  National residency center for medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry
diabetic (1981), HIV (1983), the use of stem cells from umbilical blood (CNCI) www.cnci.univ-paris5.fr
(1993), allogeneic face transplant (2005), and human autotransfusion of red
 A medical residency competition governs entry into the  National center for hospital practitioners: www.cng.sante.fr
corpuscles from stem cells (2011). third (doctoral level) stage of medical education. Students  Independent medical and paramedical community (medical and
must register by the end of March. Eligibility tests are given in paramedical students): www.remede.org
Today’s medicine combines knowledge and techniques from an array of
September by French embassies (cultural office) and  Degree program in medical French (DFM) from the Paris chamber of
sciences in order to promote human health and fight disease. Advances in
consulates. Admission tests are given in December. In 2015- commerce and industry (CCIP):
knowledge and techniques have resulted in the emergence of 11 specialties
2016, eight residencies were offered in seven specialties. www.fda.ccip.fr/examens/dfp-medical-b2
from which medical students choose. In addition to the degree of doctor of
medicine, pharmacy, or dental surgery, France’s faculties of medicine and www.cng.sante.fr/Concours-d-internat-de-medecine-a.html  École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP): www.ehesp.fr
pharmacy grant the licence and master (both national diplomas) in specific  Hôpitaux de France: www.hopital.fr
health-related aspects of computer science, law, the health sciences, public  General practitioners or specialists having earned medical  Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Health (health office):
health, the social sciences, and bio- and nanotechnologies. degrees abroad must register for the DFMS (diplôme de www.sante.gouv.fr
formation médicale spécialisée) or DFMSA (diplôme de  National Order of Physicians: www.conseil-national.medecin.fr
A general medical degree requires nine years of postsecondary study.
formation médicale spécialisée approfondie). Registration  Network of university hospital centers (CHRU):
Specialists must put in another one to two years of study. Medical
www.reseau-chu.org
education is extremely selective in France. Only 15 to 20% of students pass forms are available from the cultural office at French
the examination required to enter the second year of medical study (known  Université de Strasbourg, faculty of medicine (DFMS-DFMSA
embassies. The number of places available is limited by admission process): www-ulpmed.u-strasbg.fr
as the PACES). The total number of places available in France’s medical discipline and specialty for each region of the world.
schools (all degree programs combined) is determined each year by a  Francophone digital university of health and sport sciences:
system known as the numerus clausus. In 2014-2015, 7,497 places were www.unf3s.org
available. The number of students from outside the European Union is
limited to a maximum of 8% of the places determined by the numerus 11 specialty areas
clausus after the first-year PACES examination. Anesthesiology and reanimation – Medical biology – Gynecology
and obstetrics – General practice – Occupational medicine –
Pediatrics – Psychiatry – Public health
Sous-domaines
Surgical specialties:
CHOOSE YOUR PROGRAM
General surgery - Neurosurgery - Ophthalmology - Otolaryngology
Medicine by the numbers and cervicofacial surgery - Stomatology • Campus France program catalogue:
 www.campusfrance.org>Trouvez votre formation
 220,000 practicing physicians (2014)
Medical specialties: • Catalogue of programs taught in English:
 130,000 practitioners in private or semi-private practices www.campusfrance.org>Programs Taught in English
Anatomy and cell pathology - Cardiology and vascular disease -
 70,000 practitioners employed by hospitals. Dermatology and venereology - Gastroenterology and hepatology - • Catalogue of short academic programs and language courses:
 24,000 salaried physicians working outside hospitals Medical genetics - Hematology - Internal medicine - Nuclear www.coursdete.campusfrance.org
(research, pharmaceuticals, analytical laboratories, public medicine - Physical medicine and rehabilitation - Nephrology - • CampusBourses, financing your studies in France:
agencies, education, armed services, humanitarian Neurology - Oncology - Pneumology - Radiodiagnostics and medical www.campusfrance.org>Financez vos études
organizations, etc.) imaging - Rheumatology
Source: www.insee.fr

Updated September 2015

 First stage (DFGSM) Second stage (DCEM) Beyond the primary curriculum

Integrated into the European LMB system, medical studies in France

are divided into three stages. The universities deliver medical First year: DCEM 1 (third year of undergraduate education) DFMS and DFMSA: degree programs for foreign physicians
education in cooperation with France’s 32 CHUs, or university Students deepen the education received in the first stage, adding Physicians and pharmacists from outside the European Union
hospital centers. The first year of medical education, known as new disciplines such as clinical semiology and medical imaging, as who hold a degree that permits them to practice medicine or
PACES, is open to applicants with a French baccalauréat or well as foreign languages, computer science, and law. pharmacy in their home country or who are undergoing
equivalent, with a preference for a scientific diploma. Students may specialized training may earn a DFMS (diplôme de formation
enroll in another institution for complementary training in order to Second, third, and fourth years: DCEM 2-4 (internship)
médicale spécialisée) or DFMSA (diplôme de formation médicale
improve their chances on the end-of-year examination. These three years, known in French as the externat, because they
spécialisée approfondie) in a French medical school. They choose
Medical education is delivered in French only. Students must be take place primarily outside the university, are devoted to learning
courses pertinent to their specialty from among those offered in the
proficient in French at level B2 (Common European Framework of in a hospital setting. Students complete 36 months of internships, 4
curriculum leading to the DES (diplôme d’études spécialisées) or
Reference for Languages). per year in each of the several specialized services. Interns learn to
the DESC (diplôme d’études spécialisées complémentaires).
recognize signs of illness. Students also take courses. An
DFMS and DFMSA programs involve between 1 and 2 semesters
evaluation at the end of each year combines examination results
First year: PACES (first-year common curriculum in health) of study.
and an assessment of the student’s performance as an intern.
Spent in a university faculty of medicine, the first year of medical The DFMS and the DFMSA do not confer the right to practice
Students receive a monthly salary of €128 to €277 as contract
education is the same for all four basic medical tracks: (i) medicine medicine in France.
employees of the hospital group with which their university is
(including physical therapy and related therapies); (ii) dental surgery; Information on admission to DFMS and DFMSA programs is
affiliated. The group may be a CHU (university hospital center), an
(ii) pharmacy, and (iv) midwifery. At the end of the year, students available from the faculty of medicine at the Université de
IHU (a university hospital institute), or a CHRU (a regional
may take up to two of four distinct examinations to determine if they Strasbourg:
university hospital center). Interns work under the direction of a

e
will be permitted to continue into the second year. clinical resident or attending physician. http://med.unistra.fr>3 cycle>DFMS-DFMSA
In the first semester, the core curriculum combines the study of
basic sciences (chemistry, biology, embryology, histology) with Other programs and diplomas Sites de
functional aspects of the organization of systems and mechanisms. Most institution-specific diplomas are for short and specialized
Students take an examination at the end of the semester and are The fourth and final year of the second stage ends with a national programs. Many are open to foreign physicians or medical
ranked by performance. On average, 85% of students are allowed to ranking examination and set of national ranking tests (ECN), students.
continue in PACES, while the remaining 15% are steered into which open the way to residency. Once ranked, the student The DU and DIU are offered through programs and conventions
another field of study. In the second semester, students continue chooses a university hospital center, one of the 11 specialties listed and are for citizens of the European Union.
studying the functional aspects of the organization of systems and in the table below, and the units in which he/she will complete a
The Capacité de Médecine (CAPME) is a complementary
mechanisms. This is complemented by morphological aspects, series of 6-month internships.
program that leads to a national or state diploma. Various
pharmacology, humanities, and social sciences (health, society, During residency, students remain in the hospital setting under the
specialized CAPMEs are offered at various universities and are
humanity).Students also choose one or more courses specific to the supervision of a senior resident, but they are considered doctors
open to foreign physicians. They include assessment and treatment
four tracks outlined above. At the end of the semester, they take an and are authorized to prescribe medications. They receive a gross
of pain, gerontology, and medical hydrology and climatology, etc.
examination specific to the track they have chosen. Examination monthly salary of €1,364 to €2,095, supplemented by
Most require 2 years (about 800 hours of instruction and 800 hours
results are combined into a ranking known as the numerus clausus. compensation for time spent on call (€119 to €130 for each on-call
of internship).
The possibility of continuing medical education is determined by period). The residency provides initial professional experience in
one’s ranking. Students have the right, upon considering their the doctor’s chosen specialty. It lasts three years for general The Diplôme Universitaire (DU) is a specialized degree aimed at
ranking, to reconsider their chosen track, which may improve their practice and 4 to 5 years for certain specialties. Before receiving physicians and students pursuing a DES or DESC. The DU offers
chances of being offered a place for the second year. The number of the DES (diplôme d’études spécialisées), the resident must future physicians advanced technical knowledge in a particular
second-year admissions is set each year by decree. complete all of the 6-month internships required in the specialty field, such as gynecological and obstetric ultrasound, workplace
Attention: students may only repeat the first year of medical area, receive academic and practical instruction, and prepare a emergencies, neuro-reanimation, and emergency obstetrics and
education one time. thesis. After these requirements are fulfilled, students earn the perinatal care.
degree of medical doctor (diplôme d’État de Docteur en The Diplôme Inter-Universitaire (DIU) is an institution-specific
Second year: PCEM 2 (second year of first stage of medical médecine), which permits them to focus solely in their chosen degree. Most DIU programs are designed for holders of a French
study) – Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales specialty. 4 to 5 years are required for most specialty areas (3 for MD degree, residents, international students pursuing a DIS
(DFGSM 2) general medicine). The DESC (diplôme d’études spécialisées degree, or holders of a medical degree from another country in the
The second year advances the training provided in the first year and complémentaires de médecine) can be earned during the third European Union. DIUs are very specialized degrees in all parts of
leads to a diploma. The DFGSM 2 recognizes general training in stage of medical education and serves as a professional medicine. Examples include anatomy applied to clinical
medical sciences. Students must complete a 4-week nursing qualification for the student to practice in their specialty area. The examination and imaging, spinal deformations in children and
internship in a hospital setting. At the end of the second year, DESC takes 4 or 6 semesters, depending on the specialty. adults, arthroscopy, digestive-tract cancers, dermatological
students take an examination to determine their eligibility to continue
surgery, etc.
into the second stage of medical education.
Some DUs and DIUs are offered in alternative, noninvasive,
natural, and complementary medicine, such as osteopathy,
which is now recognized in maternity setting.

Updated September 2015